Growth hormone action in puberty: Effects by gender

As compared to girls, boys had: (1) similar sensitivity to GH for protein synthesis, lipolysis, lipid concentrations and body composition changes as well as comparable glucose and adiponectin concentrations; (2) higher IGF-I responses to 8 w of GH. Differences in IGF-I during GH treatment may account in part for the gender differences in physique and strength that develop during human puberty; however, using conventional doses of GH, these differences do not translate into differences in linear growth after 12 mo. Contrary to adults, these data do not support the need for different GH dosing depending on gender during puberty.